The Dead Yet Speaking, Biography 12
WILLIAM TINDALL.
The Life and Death of William Tindal.
WIlliam Tindal was borne about the borders of Wales, and brought up from a child in the Universitie of Oxford, where he grew up, and encreased in the knowledge of the Tongues, and the Liberall Arts, but especially in the Scriptures, whereunto his minde was singularly addicted: insomuch as being in Magdalen-Hall, he read privately to som Fellows & Students som parts of Divinitie, instructing them in the knowledge and truth of the Scriptures: his life also was so blamelesse, that he acquired much love, and esteem thereby: After he had profited exceedingly, and taken his degrees there, he removed to Cambridg, and being well ripened in the knowledge of God's Word, he went to live with one Master Welch in Glocestershire, where he was Tutor to his children: and many Abbats, and Doctors resorting thither, Master Tindal discoursing with them of Luther, Erasmus, &c. shewing them plainly his …udgement in Religion, proving the same by the Word of God, & confuting their errors; which caused them to bear a secret grudg in their hearts against him: and afterwards they took occasion to rail, and rage against him, charging him with Heresie, and accusing him to the Bishop and Chancellor, whereupon the Chancellor appointed those Priests, and Master Tindal also to appear before him, and Master Tindal suspecting the matter, as he went prayed heartily unto God to give him strength to stand fast to the truth: when he came the Chancellor threatned him grievously, reviling & rating of him, as though he had been a Dog, accusing him of many things whereof no proof could be brought, and so dismissed him for the present: not long after Master Tindal happening into the company of one that was estee…ed a learned Doctor, in disputing with him, he drave him to that issue, that the Doctor burst out into these blasphemous words, Wee had better be without God's Lawes, then the Pope's. Maste Tindal hearing this, full of Godly zeal, replied; I defie the Pope and all his Lawes, and if God spare me life, ere many yeers, I will cause a Boy that drives the plough to know more of the Scriptures then you do. The rage of the Priests encreasing, Master Tindal told Master Welch, that he well perceived that he could stay there no longer with safetie, and that his stay might be prejudicial to that Family also, and therfore with his good leave he departed and went to London, where he preached a while, as he had done in Countrie before: and then hearing a great commendation of Cuthbert Tonstal Bishop of London, he endevored to get into his servic…, but the Lord saw that it was not good for him, and therfore he found little favour in the Bishop's …ight: remaining thus in London about the space of a yeer, and being desirous, for the good of his Countrie, to translate the New Testament into English, he found that there was no place for him to do it in England, and therefore being assisted by Master Humphrie Munmoth, and other good men, he leftt the land, and went into Germany, and there set upon that work: translating the New Testament Anno. Christi 1527. and then setting upon the Old,First Bible transl…ted. he finished the five books of Moses, with sundry most learned, and godly Prologues perfixed before every one of them: the like also he did upon the N…w Testament: besides divers other godly Treatises which he wrote there; which being published, and sent over into England, became exceeding profitable to the whole English Nation. At his first going over into Germany, he went into Saxony, and had much conference with Luther, & other learned men in those quarters, and then returning into the Netherlands, made his greatest abode at An…werp: when he had finished his translation of Deuteronomy, minding to print it at Hamborouth, he sailed thitherward, but by the way upon the coast of Holland he suffered shipwrack,Great afflictions. by which he lost all his bookes, and writings, and so was compelled to begin all againe to his great hinderance and doubling of his labours: yet afterwards he went in another ship to Hamborough, where he met Master Coverdal, who assisted him in the translation of …ive the books of Moses; the sweating sicknesse being in the towne all the while, which was Anno Christi 1529. and during their imploiment in that work, they were entertained by a religious Widow,Charity. Mistresse Margaret Van Emerson: when his English Testament came abroad, Satans and the Popes instruments raged exceedingly, some saying that there were a thousand Heresies in it: others that it was impossible to translate the Scriptu…es into Euglish:Popish lies others that it was not lawful for the Lay-people to have it in their owne language, &c. and at last the Bishops, and Priests procured of King Henry the eight a Proclamation prohibiting the buying or reading of it: yet not satisfied herewith, they suborned one Henry Philips to go over to Antwerp to betraie him: who when he came thither, in…inuated himselfe into Master Tindal's company, and pretended great friednship to him; and haveing learned where his abode was, he went to Bruxels and there prevailed so far, that he brought with him the Emperors Atturney to Antwerp, and pretending to visit Master Tindal, he betraied him to two Catchpoles, which presently carried him to the Atturny: who after examination, sent him to prison in the Castle of Filford, 18. miles off, and seized upon all his writings, and what else he had at his lodging: the English Merchants at Antwerp, who loved Tindal very well, did what they could to procure his release, also letters were sent by the Lord Cromwell, and others out of England in his behalf: but Philips so bestirred himselfe, that all their endeavours came to nothing: and Tindal was at last brough to his answere; and after much reasoning although he deserved not death, yet they codemned him to die: & being brough forth to the place of execution, whilest he was tying to the stake, hee cryed with a servent and loud voice, Lord open the King of Englands eies. And so he was first strangled by the hangman, and then burn't, Anno Christi 1536. The power of his Doctrine, and the sencerity of his life was such, that during his imprisonment (which was about a yeare and an halfe) hee converted his keeper and his daughter, and some others of his houshold: and Philips that betraied him, long enjoyed not the price of innocent blood, but by God's just judgment he was devoured by lice.
Master Foxe in his History of Martyers sayes, he might be called Englands Apostle. The Workes which he writ, besides the translation of the Scriptures are these that follow.
1. A Christians obedience. 2. The unrighteous Mammon. 3. The practice of the Papists. 4. Commentaries on the seventh Chapter of Saint Matthew. 5. A discourse of the last will and testament of Tracij. 6. An answer to Sir Thomas Mores Dialogues. 7. The Doctrine of the Lords Supper against More. 8. Of the Sacrament of the Altar. 9. Of the Sa…cramentall signes. 10. A foote-path leading to the Scriptures. 11. Two letters to John Frith.
All these are extant together, with the workes of two Marty…s, Barnes and Frith, in English, in Folio: and thus after much labour and persecution, this worthy member of Christ, yeelded to the fla…es, expecting a joyfull reresurrection.
Zeale crown'd his heart… and made him to out vie.
Papisticke stocks of Hell-bred Tyranny;
He feard them not, but boldly would dispute
Against their swelling Errours, and confute
Their Principles with a most dexterous art;
His tongue was never Traytor to his heart;
Truth was the hand that pointed to the way,
Where full content and rich Salvations lay:
T'was not a loathsome prison …ould devorse
His ready lipps from the profound discourse
Of true Religion, nothing could prevent
His iust endeavours, Time, he thought mispent
If not imploy'd to good; Reader… admire,
His body flam'd to make his soule a fire.